Assigs



(No Model.)

W, HOLDSWORTH GOFFIN. I No. 331.707. Patented Dec. 1, 1885.

WITNESSES v I Q MENTOR Aftorney N mans. Phokrufihognpher. Washingmn. a c.

name sirens rarest XVILLIAH I'IOLDS\VORTH, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE DE- TROIT CASKET COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

COFFlhl.

SPECZFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,707, dated December 1, 1885'.

Application filed July 11, 1885. Serial No. 171,386. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it h nown that 1, WILLIAM HoLnswo'n'rn, of Detroit, county of \Vayne, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Burial-Caskets; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying 1o drawings, which form a part of this speciiica tion.

My invention has for its obj ect certain novel improvements in burial-caskets, whereby the casket may be provided with panels either the full length of the cover or extending a portion thereof at the head, said panels being pivotally connected to the cover of the casket, as more fully hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims, so that the casket may be readily opened and closed without separating the panels from the casket, but permitting them to be brought back over the cover in the novel manner herein set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end eleva- 2 tion of a casket embodying my invention, showing one set of panels closed and the other opened. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a portion thereof, illustrating the manner of hinging the panels and connecting them to the top 0 of the cover. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the same.

A represents the body of the casket.

A is the bottom.

B represents the cover.

0 0 represent casket-panels constituting a part or the entire cover of the casket. They may be full-length panels or simply headpanels, as may be preferred. These panels are divided into two sets, pivotally connected 0 at each side of the casket at the top of the cover, and each set may be composed of one or more leaves, 0 c.

For a child s casket the panels might be con structed of only two leaves, one upon a side,

5 hinged to the top of the cover, the leaf marked 0' being dispensed with, and of course also the hinge by which it is connected to the leaf 0 in the drawings. In larger caskets, however, it will be preferable to construct the panel upon each side with double leaves hinged together, as shown at 0 so that the inner leaf, 0, may

be folded back upon the outer leaf, 0. This leaf in the panel upon each side is provided with a bar or plate, D, pivotally connected therewith intermediate of its sides and at or near the middle, so that the bar or plate will have a horizontal movement in the are of a circle, the end of the bar connected with the cover being the pivotal point of the arc, the construction and arrangement being such that 66 said lower leaf may be opened and closed by such horizontal movement, the bar describing the arc of a circle, as shown in Fig. 3 in dotted lines. As thus pivotally connected to the cover, it will be observed the same face of the 6 leaf is uppermost whether opened or closed, and where a double leaf is used it is simply folded back upon the outerleaf,c,when opened.

To limit the action of the bar D so that it shall have only the desired play, and bring the 70 leaf to rest in the proper position when opened or closed, I prefer to recess the leaf to receive the bar, as shown in Fig. 2, and in dotted lines, Fig. 3, in which case, as will be seen, the edge at of the recess will prevent the bar being passed beyond the semicircle, said edge being an effectual stop to its further throw, although any suitable stop may be employed to accomplish this purpose.

To support the panels when opened, the bar s might be made sufficiently strong for this purpose; but ordinarily I prefer to provide extended thumb-screws a a, upon which the panel may rest when opened. This construction permits the casket to be readily opened 8 5 and closed, and presents a neat appearance.

hat I claim is-- 1. The combination, with a casket, of leaves pivotally connected to the top of the casket upon each side, the construction being such c that said leaves may be opened and closed by swinging upon their pivotal connections, whereby the same face is always uppermost, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a casket, of leaves 5 connected therewith upon each side, said leaves being connected with the casket by a bar or plate pivoted to the leaves and to the 10 pivotally connected to the top of the casket at each side, so as to be opened and closed with the same face uppermost, said panels provided with folding leaves, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HOLDSWORTH.

Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, M. B. ODoGHERTY. 

